With his mother, father, girlfriend and daughter huddled under umbrellas near the center of the field, Taylor's name was unveiled on the upper-level facade of FedEx Field, joining 42 other Redskins greats.

His father, Pedro Taylor, told the crowd that his son used to say of the fans: "When you guys make the stadium rock, he begins to rock."

"Right now," Pedro Taylor said, "Sean is rocking in heaven."

After the ceremony, the public address announcer said: "Starting at free safety for your Washington Redskins, No. 21, Sean Taylor."

Running back Clinton Portis, Taylor's close friend, then ran onto the field carrying a large burgundy flag with a gold No. 21.

"I think it was big for him and his family -- having his jersey retired," Portis said.

The game, won by the Giants 23-7, was the first following the one-year anniversary of Taylor's death. He was shot in his Florida home last Nov. 26 and died a day later.

"I don't think we were going to use this as an emotional rally," linebacker London Fletcher said. "'Let's go out and win this for Sean Taylor.' I don't think that was the mind-set. After that, it was time to go out there and play football."

Taylor's No. 21 was painted in burgundy on a white background at midfield, where the Redskins logo normally lies.